Micah Cunningham

Box Score

Biola BIO 15-14,11-9 PacWest

Point Loma PL 18-11,13-7 PacWest

Biola BIO

15-14,11-9 PacWest

Final

Mar. 07, 2024

Point Loma PL

18-11,13-7 PacWest

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Biola BIO	8	14	13	15	50
Point Loma PL	8	25	18	21	72

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | March 07, 2024 | Billi Derleth, Assistant Sports Information Director

Eagles Lose Opening Round to Hosts

The women’s basketball team put forth a valiant effort, but would fall 72-50 to the hot-shooting Point Loma Sea Lions at the Golden Gymnasium.

SAN DIEGO, Calif.---The Biola women's basketball team put forth a valiant effort, but would fall 72-50 to the hot-shooting Point Loma Sea Lions at the Golden Gymnasium.

"I'm very thankful for our players and proud of our team," stated head coach Alan Nakamura. "We really came together and finished the season strong to earn a berth in the conference tournament. Unfortunately we didn't play our best tonight."

Nakamura continued, "Point Loma had a lot to do with that. They played hard and executed well. This game doesn't define our team- win or lose we have a wonderful group of outstanding student-athletes! I'm thankful for our seniors, and I'm sad to see them graduate from our program. It has been a privilege to work with Abigail, Jordan, Madi, and Natasa - I'm going to miss working with them on a daily basis, but they have had many growth experiences during their time at Biola, and they will all graduate on time with valuable degrees. We're looking forward to staying connecting and seeing all of the great things they are going to do for the Lord in their next steps!"

The sixth-seeded Eagles and third-seeded Sea Lions played a close first quarter that resulted in a 8-8 tie. Biola trailed PLNU for the majority of the frame, but the Eagles would work back from behind to tie it up with 1:29 on the game clock. Jessa Thurman had the game-tying basket from the charity stripe (8-8).

Neither team could find a shooting rhythm in the first quarter. Biola shot 27.27 percent from the field while PLNU shot 16.67 percent. Both teams struggled from downtown as the Eagles were 0-for-2 and the Sea Lions were 1-for-4.

Point Loma began to heat up in the second quarter where they shot 66.67 percent from the field while holding Biola to 35.29 percent. The Sea Lions managed to expand their lead to as much as 12 points in the second frame and would lead by 11 heading into the half time break (33-22).

The Sea Lions kept their pace in the final half where they shot 50 percent from the field while limiting Biola to 33.33 percent. PLNU also found their three-point shot, going 40 percent from beyond the arc while BU shot 16.67 percent in the third quarter and went 0-for-2 in the fourth.

Point Loma built up their lead to as much as 23 points in the last two quarters and the Eagles would trim it down to 22 in their eventual 72-50 loss.

Jessa Thurman led Biola's offensive effort, scoring 12 points. Jordan Rabe was next-best with 11 and Trasara Alexander and Eleni Cabrera scored seven points each.

"We were excited that we earned a spot in the conference tournament, but it's disappointing how the game turned out tonight," reflected graduate student Rabe. "It was a fast-paced, physical game. We played hard and stuck together but in the end we came up short. I'm very blessed to have had five years at Biola University and as a part of the basketball program. It has been a great experience, I'm very thankful! We have a lot of talented young players and I'm excited to see how they develop, and how far they go next year."

Gallery: (3-7-2024) WBB vs PLNU (PacWest Championships)

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